“Dear Algo” is a new official feature on Threads from Meta that lets users change their recommendation feed by writing public posts that start with “dear algo.” The feature takes a long-running joke and makes it useful.
If you type “Dear Algo, show me more posts about photography” or “Dear Algo, stop showing me sports spoilers,” the platform will change what you see in your feed for the next three days.
Since the platform’s early days, Threads users have been very vocal about problems with the algorithm. Many people thought that the recommendation engine pushed content that was repetitive, emotionally charged, or not relevant. Over time, complaints turned into a meme.
People started writing posts that said “Dear Algo,” asking to see more cats and fewer fights. Meta paid attention. TechCrunch says that the company tested the idea late last year and is now making it an official system in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
More countries will be added soon. The company says that Threads is “where you go to keep up with what’s happening right now,” and they made the feature to help feeds show changes in user interests quickly.
How does Dear Algo work, and what makes it different?
Dear Algo operates through public posts, unlike traditional preference settings hidden in menus. Meta’s AI, purportedly using its Llama 4 model, evaluates your request and modifies your recommendations for a 72-hour period when you publish a post that starts with “dear algo.”
According to Meta, the change is intended to be temporary to keep the algorithm feeling current and responsive. To apply someone else’s Dear Algo preferences to your feed, you can also repost their request. You can examine or remove any active requests in your settings panel, where they are all visible and manageable.
Threads has a practical edge over rivals thanks to this strategy. Several reports claim that “not interested” buttons, which are reactive and frequently ambiguous, are the mainstay of competing platforms like X and Bluesky. Dear Algo takes the initiative by allowing you to express what you truly want, rather than simply selecting “no” for things you don’t like.
A quick look at key user benefits
- Three-day temporary tuning: Three-day temporary tuning is great for live events like conferences or sporting championships where your profile won’t be permanently changed.
- Plain language commands: When you use plain language commands, you don’t have to know technical terms or how to get around complicated settings menus anymore.
- Community-driven discovery: You can use your friends’ helpful topic filters by sharing their requests.
- Full transparency: You can always delete your active requests, which are saved in settings.
- Spoiler protection: Don’t talk about TV shows or movies you haven’t seen yet to avoid spoilers.
Addressing a real-time information gap of Dear Algo
It was clear during past high-stakes news events that this feature was necessary. Many Threads users said in November 2024 that algorithmic feeds were showing old election posts hours after the results changed, which made things confusing.
There was a “Following” feed that showed posts in order, but it was hard to find on mobile. Dear Algo is a middle ground: it lets you use algorithms easily while still letting you control them for a short time.
The feature also comes out as Threads gets more and more popular. As of January 2026, Threads’ mobile app had 141.5 million daily active users, which was more than X’s 125 million on mobile platforms, according to market research company Similarweb.
FAQ
Q: What is Dear Algo on Threads?
Dear Algo is a Meta feature that lets Threads users change their recommendation feed by writing public posts that start with “dear algo” and then say what they want to see more or less of.
Q: How long do requests to Dear Algo last?
For three days, each request changes your feed in some way. The algorithm goes back to its default behavior after 72 hours unless you post another request.
Q: Are my Dear Algo posts only for me?
No. Anyone on Threads can see your request and repost it to apply the same preferences to their feed because the feature works through public posts. Meta calls the service a tool for finding new communities.
Q: What countries can use Dear Algo?
The feature is now available in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Meta wants to move to more countries soon.
Q: Does this option take the place of the “Following” feed?
No. The chronological Following feed is still available. Dear Algo is an improvement to the algorithmic “For You” feed that lets users temporarily control what recommendations they see.
Conclusion: Dear Algo, I understand that algorithmic feeds aren’t fair and that people should be able to choose what they see. Meta made a visible, temporary, and social feedback loop by adding a user-made meme to its infrastructure.
Algo’s future depends on how well it works in different places and whether other sites have controls that are easy to use. Threads is the only app that lets you see and type at the same time right now.
